Tag Archives: Nouvelle Aquitaine

The Charente Maritime has a huge wealth of historical sights to visit, discover and enjoy!

We are really spoilt for choice here with Unesco World Heritage sites, ancient caves, and Roman ruins.

Here are a few of our favourites which always make for a really fun and interesting day out.

Le Paléosite

Near Saintes, at Saint-Césaire, a 34,000-year-old Neanderthal skeleton was discovered and the Paléosite is now a museographical site dedicated to exploring the prehistoric era.

It has an interactive museography, screening rooms, archaeological collections and daily activities.

Saintes Amphitheatre

This huge amphitheatre was built in 40-50 AD during the reign of Claudius and seated 15,000 spectators.

You can now visit the ruins of this impressive Gallo-Roman arena.

Brouage

Brouage was established in 1555 to trade in ‘white gold’ (salt) and this fortified village was recently being added to the ‘most beautiful villages in France’ list.

The town was fortified in the 17th century to become a Catholic bastion against Protestant neighbours.

You can walk the 2.5km of defensive walls that incorporate 19 watch towers.

Grottes du Regulus

Originally created by nature, these caves in the cliffs near Meschers were enlarged by humans to become a troglodyte habitat and home at various times to smugglers, pirates, protestants and fishermen seeking shelter.

You can enjoy spectacular views of the Gironde estuary from the caves.

The Hermione

Situated in the port at Rochefort, an attractive 18th century town, the Hermione is a reproduction of the 1779 frigate, which took General La Fayette from Rochefort to the United States in 1780 to allow him to rejoin the American Revolutionary War.

It is France’s largest replica of an old sailing boat.

Something that links these attractions, as well as most places in the Charente Maritime, is that the best way to explore them is by bike!

We can deliver bikes direct to you ready for you to enjoy – so if you are planning a visit email Chris at charentemaritime@bikehiredirect.com or visit the Bike Hire Direct website and check out the Cycling in Charente Maritime or page to discover the many routes available.

This fabulous hidden gem lies just a 5-minute drive from the popular town of Saint Junien in Haute Vienne.

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From the main car park just off the D21 you can access several marked routes.

Sentier chez le Geai is one of the cyclable routes you can take from here if you are preferring a longer adventure however Site Corot is a great place to just spend a peaceful afternoon along the river, stopping off for a picnic and exploring this interesting area.

Site Corot is a ZNIEFF area, a Natural Zone of Ecological Interest, Flora and Fauna.

It follows the river Glane which starts off in the Ambazac hills and feeds into the Vienne river on the outskirts of Saint Junien.

The valley is home to the protected ‘Royal Fern’ which can reach up to two metres in height and you can also find an array of wildlife.

On our visit we were lucky enough to spot a turtle basking on a rock in the afternoon sunshine!

The site is dedicated to the French landscape artist Jean-Baptiste Camille Corot who took his inspiration from the area.

Corot had a studio here during the mid-1800’s which was reconstructed in 2009 and is open at the weekends, during the months of July and August.

You can also spot a bronze portrait of Corot, attached to a block of granite, which has been there since 1904!

The area along the river was an important industrial site however the section between the Moulin Brice and the Moulin de Rochebrune remained wild.

At the café near to the Moulin Brice, which is open during the summer months, you can pick up refreshments and enjoy them sat next to the calming river.

It is in this old mill that there are often art exhibitions held.

If you want to explore the routes around Saint Junien and Site Corot we can deliver bikes and accessories for the whole family direct to your accommodation and collect them again at the end of your stay.

If you’re planning a family holiday in the Charente Maritime in the next few weeks here are some ideas for a great day out…

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The Winter Cup 2020 Surf competition – Saint Denis D’Oleron… starting on the 22nd February this free event is based on the northern most beach of the Il D’Oleron.

Also on the island, the week before, 14th – 16th
February is the carnival like ‘Fete du Mimosa’ in St.Trojan les Bains. Music,
food, processions and a brocante spread over the three days.

If brocantes are your thing and you like hunting for hidden treasures or just enjoy the bustle of a French market, then some recommended dates are…La Rochelle 23rd and 29th February and 5th,7th March– Centre ville.

A beautiful city and well worth the trip if you’ve not been before, but the added pleasure of a great market is a bonus.

7th and 8th March Rochefort – another
great town with a great brocante.

Something that links these three locations, as well as most other areas in the Charente Maritime, is that the best way to explore them is by bike!

I can deliver and collect bikes from any location within the department and provide you with any necessary equipment to ensure you make the most of your stay including car bike racks, trailers, baby seats and tag-a-longs.

This area of France is perhaps one of the best and safest areas to cycle. The coast particularly is well sign-posted and completely bike ‘friendly’.

Along all the routes are plenty of places to stop and rest; cafes, creperies and restaurants.

We can deliver bikes to you in the Charente Maritime ready for you to enjoy – so if you are planning a visit email Chris at charentemaritime@bikehiredirect.com or visit the Bike Hire Direct website and check out the Cycling in Charente Maritime or page to discover the many routes available.

We had an awesome Christmas and New Year break – it flew by too quickly as usual but was great all the same!

Now our thoughts turn to the up coming year and all the things we are looking forward to.

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As usual there is a lot going on, but the biggest news is
the Tour de France route…

We’re spoilt for choice on where we’re going to try and watch it from!

Both of the Islands are key locations, as well as Chatelaillon-Plage and La Rochelle.

Another date/weekend to look forward to is June 21st, Fete de la Music.

It’s more like a street festival and I’ve noticed it seems to be getting bigger and better each year.

It takes place through -out France, but I was lucky enough to be working in La Rochelle last year, and I really enjoyed the atmosphere created by the street musicians and performers.

Also, in La Rochelle, an event we’ve enjoyed as a family in the past, is the Red Bull Cliff Diving situated in the old port on the 6th of June.

2016 was the last time it took place here and it was very well attended, I would recommend you hire some bikes to avoid the traffic if you have plans to go.

Wednesday 1st to Sunday 5th July I’ll
be hopping over the Department border into the Charente for the Cognac Blues
Festival.

This is a great, well organised event set in the parklands
of central Cognac. Simple Minds are the headline band this year, but, with
music, food, drink and other events spread over the 5 days you will not be
disappointed. It’s a wonderful atmosphere.

These are just a few ideas to look forward for 2020.

For us and the bikes, we’re ready to welcome you and help you enjoy your stay in this beautiful part of France.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’re planning your stay in the Charente Maritime.

We can deliver bikes to you in the Charente Maritime ready for you to enjoy – so if you are planning a visit email Chris at charentemaritime@bikehiredirect.com or visit the Bike Hire Direct website and check out the Cycling in Charente Maritime or page to discover the many routes available.

We’re really looking forward to getting
back in the saddle (literally) and meeting new (and existing customers) and
exploring some more of the wonderful Charantaise countryside.

Just before Xmas, I had to go to Fleac for
an appointment and was utterly blown away by the beauty of the place, beautiful
narrow ancient streets and the wonderful Hotel de Ville (which looked extra
special with Xmas lights).

and the proximity to the wonderful Charente
river.

This is ‘la guingette de Fleac’ which I sooo
want to try over summer!

That discovery has certainly whetted my
apetitie to try more ‘suburbs’ of Angouleme which we don’t routinely visit with
bike deliveries.

Also we are determined to get to the Cognac
Blues Passion festival this year. 2 years ago it was headlined by James
Blunt/Santana, last year it was Toto and this year, it’s the mighty Simple
Minds. We’re getting a little long in the tooth for gigs and it’s a very busy
time of the year for us re Bike Hire but it would be so great to see such a
prestigious band of my youth, in the Charente. Dates this year are 1-5 July.

And as excitement already builds re this
year’s Le Tour de France, we are keen to get back on our bikes and find new
boucles which we haven’t explored before. We plan to take a deep breath and tackle the
68 km boucle from Cognac to Angouleme.

It goes through several gorgeous villages
we have delivered to many times and admired, including St Simon, Vibrac,
Brassac….

Le fleuve Charente à Saint-Simon, village des gabariers

and of course through the lovely town of
Jarnac.

You also get to cycle through the lesser
known Chateauneuf-sur –Charente which has some really interesting small lanes,
cracking town hall, great outdoor swimming pool and once again, access to the
river with wonderful locks and walks. There is also a train station if you’re
really flagging by then!!

And as if all this wasn’t enough, you get to cycle through my newly discovered favourite village of Fleac and of course, finish in Angouleme, capital city of the Charente, with its wonderful architecture, museums, restaurants, cafes and buzzy markets. The usual annual events of the 47th Bande Dessinee (30th Jan to 2nd Feb) and Circuit des Ramparts (18-20 Sept) will of course be held there too, both come highly recommended.

Here at Bike Hire Direct Haute Vienne/Vienne we’ve enjoyed a lovely relaxing Christmas and are now looking forward to preparing for another busy year ahead delivering bikes throughout this beautiful area!

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There’s so much going on every year and it’s always impossible to get to everything but here are just a few of the events that we’re really hoping to fit into our busy schedule in 2020…

Tour de France 2020

The forthcoming years Tour de France is passing directly through both the Vienne & Haute Vienne departments!

Taking in Poitiers during the 11th stage and travelling from the medieval town of Chauvigny for stage 12, working southwards through Le Dorat in the Haute Vienne, passing Lac de Saint-Pardoux and the east of Limoges before finishing in department of Correze.

We’ll be certainly getting a prime spot for this thrilling event!

Fête de la Musique

Another event that takes place all over France on the 21st June is the annual Fête de la Musique!

Last year we attended our local town for the midsummer festivities and we’ll be sure to get there again in 2020!

Urbaka Festival

We’ve never been able to make it to this festival yet but we’re hoping this will be the year!

Held early in July, this street-art festival takes over the many areas of Limoges for 4 days of creative fun!

Cycling Routes

Before starting the busy season we’re hoping to explore some of the many fabulous cycle routes in the area.

There’s so many to choose from but one which we’re really hoping to fit in is this 37km boucle, Circuit des Abbayes, taking in the area south of Poitiers.

Most of all though, we’re looking forward to welcoming our customers old and new and helping them have a fantastic holiday here in the departments of Haute Vienne & Vienne!

We are very excited for 2020 – with bookings already confirmed for the year… it is set to be another busy year for all the Bike Hire Direct businesses delivering bikes across many parts of France.

So how can Bike Hire Direct help you enjoy cycling in France in 2020?

Holidaying in France?

If you are coming on holiday to France why not consider hiring a bike?

Whether you want to hit the road to explore the region, keep the kids busy whilst you relax or simply would like to collect a baguette from the boulangerie each morning then a bike could be the perfect holiday activity for you!

Bike Hire Direct offer top quality, great value bikes with a wide range of accessories to suit all of your holiday needs. And with free helmets, locks, tool kits, delivery and collection with every bike hire you will have everything you need to get pedalling!

Bike Hire Direct can deliver bikes any day of the year at a time and location to suit you… why waste your precious holiday time picking up bikes from a shop when Bike Hire Direct will bring them to you.

For more information on bike hire please visit the Bike Hire Direct website… perhaps visit the ‘Cycling in France‘ page to get some ideas of some great cycling routes or visit the Bike Hire Direct ‘Contact Us‘ page where you can contact one the local Bike Hire Direct business to find out how they can help. Alternatively, visit:

There are lots of holiday accommodation options across France – just how do you get potential visitors to pick your gite, hotel, chambre d’hotes or campsite over others?

Why not offer bike hire to your guests!

Bike Hire Direct knows just how much hard work goes into running quality holiday accommodation and so Bike Hire Direct makes it easy for you to offer more to your guests.

Simply let your guests know that bike hire is available and Bike Hire Direct will do the rest – with a range of leaflets, posters and emailable materials available to make this easy. Bike Hire Direct will even deliver bikes to your accommodation for free!

The Charente always has lots of events to enjoy throughout the year – and Christmas is a particularly magical time with lots of Christmas Markets and Fetes!

Read on to find out where we will be feeling festive this Christmas….

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Chateauneuf sur Charente

Chateauneufs Xmas market is always special – right in the centre of the town (near the wonderful town hall), there are several artisan stands selling local produce, refreshments, dance displays and of course the compulsory visit by Father Xmas.

This year is it on Saturday 7th December, starting at 09.00 a.m.

St Meme les Carrieres

On the same day and continuing into Sunday 8th too, is the marche de noel of St Meme les Carrieres, a really local traditional village close to Jarnac with a perfect square.

This is both artisanal and gourmand and promises to offer some lovely produce and lots of fun. There is also face painting for the kids on Sunday.

Domaine de Tambourinour

The following weekend, sees a farmers market and Xmas market on the Friday afternoon (14-19.00) at Domaine de Tambourinour, including mulled wine, free tombola, stalls and once again, Father Xmas (gosh he’s going to be busy !!).

Angouleme – Place Victor Hugo

The following day (Sat 14th December) is the Xmas markets at Place Victor Hugo in Angouleme.

One of my favourites, it is always ‘buzzy’ but takes on a special atmosphere for the Xmas market day.

Wonderful Xmas food, decorations, wreaths and refreshments.

Salles Lavalette

Our own village of Salles Lavalette is already decorated for it’s xmas market which was on Sat 30th November and as usual in France, the Xmas trees are always outside, tied to drainpipes or signs.

The church was also decorated with lights
to add to the festive atmosphere.

The shops are now full of seasonal produce
– ducks, geese, turkeys, chapons (very popular in France – capons), boudin
noir, smoked duck, wonderful cheeses and cremant, a French sparkling wine made
by the methode champenoise as with real champagne but a fraction of the price
and wonderful for aperitifs and/or a drinks party.

Whatever you’re doing this Xmas, we wish you a wonderful festive season.

We provide bike hire all year round so why not enjoy the festivities on two wheels and allow yourself to indulge in all there is on offer this Christmas in the Charente!